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Monsoon tops list of wage law breakers

The high street fashion retailer Monsoon Accessorize has topped the government's latest list of companies who failed to pay the national minimum wage (NMW).

Monsoon, which is owned by Monsoon Holdings (Jersey) Ltd and registered in a tax haven, is the largest company on the list - is in the number one slot by some distance for failing to pay a total of £104,508 to 1,438 workers.

According to the BBC, Monsoon and Accessorize's wages dipped below the minimum because it had a policy of offering staff discounted fashions to wear at work.The cost was taken off their wages, taking them below the legal threshold.

"Today's list of offenders is only the tip of the iceberg," TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady told the BBC.

"I am particularly saddened to see Monsoon Accessorize acting in breach of the law. A large firm with thousands of employees has no excuse for not having proper systems in place to ensure staff get their legal wages."

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